Lock for the door of a refrigerator truck or car



Feb. 9, 1937. c. R. HENNICKE LOOK FOR THE DOOR OF A REFRIGERATOR TRUCKOR CAR Filed July 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 9, 1937. c. R. HENNICKELOOK FOR THE DOOR OF A REFRIGERATOR TRUCK OR CAR Filed July 2, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I C M2 R'TW qfi i mwgew Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNHTEESTATES PATENT GFFEE LOOK FOR THE DOOR OF A REFRIGERATOR TRUCK 0R CARtion of Connecticut Application July 2, 1935, Serial No. 29,501

13 Claims.

This invention relates to latch mechanism adapted not only to secure aclosure to a frame, body or the like, but also to shift the closure bythe operation of the mechanism itself. The invention relates furthermoreto protection against unauthorized access past the closure by a lockwhich will automatically secure an actuating member of the latchmechanism in looking position when the operator shuts the closure andturns the actuating member to locking position. The invention hasparticular utility for securing the door of a refrigerator body inclosed position.

Latch mechanisms having one or more bolts which are reciprocated intoengagement with the frame of the door or other like closure are not welladapted for closures for refrigerators unless the mechanism is soarranged that the bolts exert a pressure inwardly on the closure. Latchmechanisms of this type, when used on the closures of refrigerators,have usually been mounted on the outside of the closure. Some sort oflinkage or lever action has generally been necessary to provide forexerting the necessary inward pressure on the closure. This has resultedin a complicated mechanism involving numerous working joints and rodswhich not only are unsightly on the outside surface of the closure, butinterfere with the lettering or decorative work which is frequently usedon refrigerator bodies of the vehicle type.

While attempts have been made to place the latch mechanism on the insideof the refrigerator body, such attempts have not been successful for thereason that more release of the latch mechanism is frequently not enoughto bring about opening of the closure. The latter becomes frosted inplace; and it is a common occurrence to find the closure held tight bythe frost.

I have overcome this difficulty by providing a mechanism, placed for themost part on the inside of the refrigerator body, which exerts an inwardpressure on the door in closing, and reverses itself in opening so as topry the closure loose in case the latter should have become frosted. Theinward pressure in closing makes sure that the packing around theclosure shall be placed under pressure and make a tight seal. Thepressure in the reverse direction, which is brought about duringopening, pries the closure loose even though the frost tends to hold ittight.

A further difficulty in connection with the closing of refrigeratordoors and the like, especially when mounted as a part of a truck orother vehicle, has been the reluctance on the part of the operator to goto the trouble of properly locking the door or other closure duringintervals when the operator is not loading or unloading therefrigerator. Heretofo're, it has been customary to provide the latchmechanism with a padlock to prevent thievery due to unauthorized openingof the door or other closure. Even though the padlock or the like mightbe ample protection when used, such an arrangement has not provedsatisfactory because the operator is unwilling to take the time toinsert the padlock and make sure it is securely locked. The use of thepadlock complicates rapid opening and closing of the door when adelivery is being made by the driver of a refrigerator truck; and itcustomarily happens that the driver, of his own accord, fails to use thepadlock provided. Thefts of the merchandise carried are of course afrequent result of such laxity.

I provide a lock-controlled catch which cooperates with the actuatingmember of the latch mechanism to secure said member in locking position.This catch automatically drops into locking position when the actuatingmember is thrown by the operator, and it is not necessary for him to goto the trouble of inserting a padlock. Accordingly, as the action of thecatch is automatic, he cannot close the door without locking the same.It is a simple matter to insert the ey and by a single movement open theclosure by turning the actuating member from looking to releasingposition.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention,

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of the latch mechanism andcooperating lock as applied to a closure, such as a door of arefrigerator body, the closure being indicated by chain lines and thelatch mechanism, even the parts which would be hidden by the closure,being shown in full lines;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views illustrating a bolt of the latchmechanism in closed position and in opening position respectively; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a keeper to be mounted in the frame tocooperate with a bolt.

The latch mechanism has one or more bolts 8 for engaging each a keeper 9mounted in the frame F. The bolt 8 is fixed on the outer end of a rod II, being secured thereto as by rivets. Bolt actuated from a centralcasing l2 mounted. on the inside of the closure C. This casing containsa rack 14 meshing with the gear teeth of an actuating gear l5 (see Fig.1). 'In the parage causes arcuate, movement of the bolt in mov-' inginto and out of its keeper.

' and from locking position.

ticular. embodiment shown, there are oppositely arranged rods II andbolts 8; and accordingly a second rack I4 engages the opposite side ofthe gear l5, thus balancing the forces when the bolts are actuated. Itis obvious, however, that the.

'pair of links 20 pivoted at one end to the pin [9.

and pivoted'at the other end to a pin 2| carried by a, bracket 22 on theclosure C. This bracket is'fastened to the inside surface of the closurein line with the actuating gear I5. When the gear is rotated (in acounterclockwise direction as seenin Fig. 1) the rods I l are thrustoutwardly from the. chain line position of Fig. 2 to the fulllineposition to force the bolts 8 into the keepers 9 mounted in the frame F.When the gear is rotated in the opposite direction, the bolts arewithdrawn from the keepers. The link- Toward the end of the outwardmovement of a bolt (when it has entered its keeper) the linkstend'toward a vertical position. The bolt accordingly is swung inwardlytoward the closure C and, having made contact with the keeper, pulls theclosure inwardly. The reverse movement of the gear l5, and consequentlyof the bo1t,;causes thelatter to swing arcuately, in leavingthe keeper.The links 20 then move toward a horizontal position (see Fig. 5) andthere is an outward or opening thrust exerted through the linkageagainst the closure C.

By reason of the reaction arising from the arcuate movement of the bolt8 when the racks M are thrust outwardly by the gear l5, the closure isdrawn tight against packing provided between a the same and the frame F.This is particularly advantageous in connection with a closure for arefrigerator body. The reaction arising from the from the frame.

'shut hard enough partially to compress the packing. Bevel 25 makesprovision for. the opposite extreme when thedoor cannot be shuteasily'to such a position as to allow the bolt to enter the keeper. Inother words, both bevels combine to" give an increased range of pick upto the bolts of approximately the thickness of the bolt itself. So faras the essential operation 'of'the, latch mechanism is concerned,however, these bevels play no part, and they may be omitted.

The mechanism thus far described is hidden and inaccessible from theoutside of the closure.

The shaft 21 on which the gear I5 is mounted, is provided with a squaredshank engaged within a corresponding opening in the gear 15; and asubstantial handle 28 is fixed on the shaft 21 on the outside of theclosure C for rotating the gear, and accordingly operating the latchmechanism. A catch is provided at the locking position of the handle;and with this catch coooperates a keyoperated lock for controllingreleasing movement of the catch. The handle is preferably a lever'bodiment shown in the drawings), or intermediate its ends. The catchmay be mounted on the i0 fixed to the shaft 21 either at one end (theemclosure itself; but I prefer to mount the catch on the frame 'Falongside the door. The handle28 carries an abutment3l] housed by aportion 3| of the handle. The catch 32 itself is mounted .on

a pivot 33 within the housing 34 of the catch bracket. The catch ortrigger 32 is positioned by a spring 36 'so as to yield when its bevelednose 3'! is engaged by the abutment 30, and then drop A key-operatedlock in behind the abutment 30.

39, which is preferably of the cylinder type, is T provided in the catchbracket 34; and when' this;

lock is turned by'its key a depending end'lll of the catch or trigger isengaged so as to rotate the catch and release the abutment As isusual'with such cylinder locks, the key' .catch or trigger 32. toautomatically lock the e handle in such position. The housing" portion3| of the handle 28 cooperates with the catch bracket 34 to house thecatch 32 and prevent tampering therewith. This housing portion 3iincludes a recess for accdmmodating, the upper end 31 of the catch 32,and furthermore includes ribs 3la which overlap the bracket 34on itsexposed sides so as to prevent insertion of even a thin imple merit forforcing thelock.

.-- J.l2he mechanism just described makes it possible "for the operatorto'close the closure quickly without thought as to locking the same. Thehandle 28, in swinging to horizontal position, forces the bolt or bolts8 toward the closure so as to.

tightly compress the packing. The latch mechanism is so arranged thatthe maximum pressure is reached by the time the handle is in itshorizontal or looking position; and at this time the spring-actuatedcatch snaps into locking engagement'with' the abutment 30 in the handle;and

it is impossible to lift the handle again without; using the key to tripthe catch. Accordingly, the

operator locks the door and compresses the pack-.

ing in one continuous motion confined to a quar The relation between thelatch mechanism and the spring-actuated catch as provided by myinvention is an advantageous one. The gear I5 is of such a size relativeto each rack I4 that a quarter turn of the gear shifts each bolt 8 fromretracted position to the position in which maximum pressure is exertedtohold the closure against the frame. It is the spring-actuated catch 32which holds the handle 28 in this position with the packing undercompression. The turning of the lock and tripping of the trigger orcatch 32 releases the handle which is the actuating member maintainingsuch pressure. Accordingly, the movement of the handle from thehorizontal position shown in Fig. l to vertical position, thereby fullyretracting the bolts 8, is facilitated. The arrangement has proved to beboth a convenient one for rapid opening and closing, and also aneffective precaution against leaving the door unlocked between stops,since the operator in moving the handle to horizontal position to closethe door automatically locks the handle in such position.

While I have illustrated and described the form of my invention which Iat present prefer, it will be understood that the invention may beotherwise embodied and practiced within the scope of the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. Latch mechanism for shifting a movable closure relative to a frameand for securing the closure thereto comprising a bolt on the inside ofthe closure for engaging the frame, said bolt being movable away fromand toward the closure and means having an actuating member on theoutside of the closure for moving the bolt to released and engagedpositions, said means forcing the bolt away from the closure against aportion of the frame during movement to the first-named position so asto tend to open the closure.

2. Latch mechanism for shifting a movable closure relative to a frameand for securing the closure thereto comprising a bolt on the inside ofthe closure for engaging the frame, said bolt being movable away fromand toward the closure and means having an actuating member on theoutside of the closure for moving the bolt to released and engagedpositions, said means forcing the bolt away from the closure against aportion of the frame during movement to the firstnamed position andforcing the bolt toward the closure against a portion of the frameduring movement to the last-named position.

3. Latch mechanism for shifting a movable closure relative to a framehaving a keeper, said mechanism comprising a bolt for engaging thekeeper, means for actuating the bolt to released and engaged positions,and a linkage connecting the bolt to the closure for thrusting theclosure away from the frame as the bolt moves relative to the keeper toreleased position.

4. Latch mechanism for shifting a movable closure relative to a framehaving a keeper, said mechanism comprising a bolt for engaging thekeeper, means for actuating the bolt to released and engaged positions,and a linkage connecting the bolt to the closure for pulling the closureto the frame as the bolt moves to engaged position and for thrusting theclosure away from the frame as the bolt moves relative to the keeper toreleased position.

5. In combination with a frame having a keeper, latch mechanism forshifting a movable clo sure relative to the frame and for securing theclosure thereto comprising a bolt on the inner surface of the closurefor engaging the keeper, and means for moving the bolt to released andengaged positions, said means including a linkage connecting the bolt tothe closure for pulling the closure to the frame as the bolt moves toengaged position, the movement of said bolt relative to said closurebeing arcuate and the keeper being disposed sufficiently below thecenter of the are so that the inward component of such movementincreases as the bolt becomes engaged.

6. In combination with a frame having a keeper, latch mechanism forshifting a movable closure relative to the frame and for securing theclosure thereto comprising a bolt for engaging the keeper, means forreciprocating the bolt toward and from the keeper, and a linkageadjacent the outer end of the bolt connecting the bolt to the closure soas to cause the bolt to move arcuately relative to the closure andengage the keeper during retracting movement for prying the closureopen.

7. In combination with a frame having a keeper, latch mechanism forshifting a movable closure relative to the frame and for securing theclosure thereto comprising a bolt for engaging the keeper, means forreciprocating the bolt toward and from the keeper, and a linkageconnecting the bolt to the closure for pulling the closure to the frameas the bolt moves to engaged position and for thrusting the closure awayfrom the frame as the bolt moves relative to the keeper to releasedposition.

8. Latch mechanism for shifting a movable closure relative to a framehaving a keeper, comprising a bolt for engaging the keeper, meanspivoted thereto for actuating the bolt to released and engagedpositions, and a linkage connecting the bolt to the closure for pullingthe closure to the frame as the bolt moves to engaged position and forthrusting the closure away from the frame as the bolt moves relative tothe keeper to released position, the end of the bolt having beveledportions for engaging the keeper during locking movement of the bolt,one facing toward the closure and the other facing away from theclosure.

9. In combination with latch mechanism for a closure, said mechanismhaving an actuating lever oscillatable in a plane parallel to theclosure to locking and unlocking positions, means for securing saidlever in locking position comprising a resiliently positioned catchpivoted to oscillate in a plane parallel to the closure and engageablewith said lever when in locking position, a housing for said catch, anda key-operated lock for controlling releasing movement of said catch,said lever having ribs overlapping said housing when said lever is inlooking position so as to prevent tampering with said catch.

10. Latch mechanism for shifting a movable closure relative to a frameand for securing the closure thereto comprising a bolt for engaging theframe, means for moving the bolt to released and engaged positions, saidmeans including an actuating member on the outside of the closureswingable to locking and unlocking positions and a linkage connectingthe bolt to the closure for pulling the closure against a portion of theframe during movement to engaged position, said actuating member beingso connected to the bolt that the member tends to swing away fromlocking position because of the pressure on the bolt, and means forsecuring said member in looking position against torque thus impartedthereto by the bolt comprising a resiliently positioned catch engageablewith said member when in looking position and a key-operated lock forcontrolling releasing movement of said catch.

ll. Mechanism for securing a movable closure to a frame including asecuring bolt, a lever oscillatable to locking and unlocking positions,said lever having a cavity in the lower side thereof and an abutmentextending transversely of the lever within the'cavity, operativeconnections between the lever and bolt for actuating the' 12. Latchmechanism for shifting a movable closure relative to a refrigerator bodyhaving a frame and a keeper adjoining the frame on the inside of thebody, comprising in combination a' bolt on the inner surface'oi theclosure adapted to cooperate with the keeper, a linkage on the innersurface of the closure mounting said bolt for swinging movement relativeto the closure,

said linkage extending inward from the-closure to the bolt so as to pullthe closure to the frame to make sealing engagement therewith as thebolt is pushed into its keeper, and means for moving the bolt toreleased and engaged positions.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which the moving means includesmechanism on the inner surface of the closure connected to the bolt andan actuating member therefor on the outer side of the closure.

' CARL R. HENNICKE.

